FDA inspection triggers recall by Florida pharmacy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is warning doctors and pharmacists to avoid drugs made by a Florida specialty pharmacy called The Compounding Shop, due to potential safety problems uncovered by health inspectors.

The St. Petersburg, Fla.-based pharmacy has agreed to recall all of its sterile drugs and is in the process of notifying customers, the FDA said in a statement. The agency said health care professionals should quarantine drugs from the company and not administer them to patients.

The Compounding Shop is a compounding pharmacy, which means it mixes custom formulations of drugs to meet doctors’ specifications. In recent weeks the FDA has cracked down on compounding pharmacies across the country, triggering several national recalls.

FDA officials warn that contamination of compounded drugs can lead to life-threatening infections.